Shoe conforming apparatus



Oct. 30, 1962 J. s. KAMBORIAN ErAL 3,050,468`

SHOE coNFoRMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 17, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aff) 3,4JHJW j o* 'I l l o 'f 0 h 45- L."

4? fil 14: o :ff/V I j I. jf" I j?? I 7 41 o A f/ M45 o x o W I Oct. 30,1962 J. S. KAMBORIAN ETAL SHOE CONFORMING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 17. 1960 f if W fw fm f M Jb y OC- 30, 1962 J. s. KAMBORIAN ErAL 3,050,468

SHOE coNFoRMNG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1'7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 'ffice3,560,468 SHOE CONFRMING APPARATUS Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton,Charles l'. Dyer, Watertown, and Alan G. Baker, Plymouth, Mass.; saidDyer and Baker assignors to Kamborian Filed Aug. 17, 1960, Ser. No.50,177 19 Claims. (Cl. 12-8.2)

This invention relates to shoe machines, and particularly to anapparatus for snugly conforming a shoe upper to the shape of the shoelast upon which the upper is mounted during relative heightwise movementbetween the shoe upper and the conformer.

In application Serial No. 34,564, tiled lune 7, 1960,

there is disclosed a iiexible shoe conformer comprising a deformableyoke having a bight :and legs extending away from the bight on oppositesides of the bight. Resilient means are provided for yieldably urgingthe bight and the legs of the yoke inwardly of the yoke. The yokemounting means include a plurality of elements pivotally connected forrelative swinging movement about vertical taxes.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved conformer havingthe same general function as the conformer disclosed in theaforementioned application. To carry out this object, a pair of leafsprings are provided that extend along the outside walls of the yokelegs from the bight of the yoke to a point remote from the bight. Thelegs of the yoke 'are connected to the frame by means of supportsrigidly secured to the frame. The yoke legs are connected to thesupports by means of screw-s pivotally mounted in the supports, rodsslidably mounted in the screws and yieldably urged towards the yokelegs, and a pivotal connection between the rods and support arms thatare connected to the yoke legs.

The invention also includes an improved connection between said supportarms and the yoke legs comprising a limb connected to the support arminserted in a slot in the yoke leg, this connection permitting relativemotion between the yoke leg and support arm to take place.

A troublesome aspect in the use of the conformer in a toe lastingmachine such as that illustrated in Patent No. 2,888,693 is the tendencyof the resiliently urged yoke bight and yoke legs to close inwardly ofthe last should the last be lowered an amount sufcient to place the topof the insole below the bottom of the yoke. A further object of theinvention is to overcome this ditliculty. This is attained by placing astop mechanism cooperating with the control linkage of the machine thatwill preclude the lowering of the shoe an amount sufficient to :causethis undesired action to take place.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a vertical view partly in section of a toe lasting machineshowing the wipers, the shoe support and the shoe conformer; t

l-TlG. 2 is a plan view of the front of the machine with the coverremoved showing the wipers, the wiper driving mechanism yand the shoeconformer;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view partly in section, showing part of the`control mechanism for driving the wipers;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shoe conformer and the means for mountingthe conformer in the machine;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation View of the conformer shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the control handle and associated partsincluding the valve for effecting horizontal movement of the wipers;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation View of part of the conformer shown in FIG.5;

sFG. 8 is a vertical section taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 5;

HG. 9 is a vertical `section taken along the line 9-9 of FlG. 4; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical section showing the relationship of the last,upper, insole, yoke legs and wipers.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, there are wipers 10 and lil and a wipercarrying slide l2, arranged on a frame 14 to move in a horizontal pathforwardly and rearwardly, and a shoe support comprising a toe rest 16and a heel pin 18 mounted on a carriage Ztl for movement vertically toraise a shoe into a position to be operated on by the wipers. The shoesupport may be made substantially in accordance with the supportdisclosed in Patent No. 2,668,967. The slide 12 is operably connected toa motor 22 and the carriage Ztl is operably connected to a motor 24. lnaccordance with Patent No. 2,888,693, there are valves V1 and V2 forcontrolling the iiow of fluid to the motors and a single control handle26 movable forwardly and rearwardly in a horizontal plane and rotatableabout its longitudinal axis to respectively produce forward and rearwardmovement of the wipers and up and down movement of the support. Thevalve V1 (FIG. 6) is fastened to the underside of a horizontal bracketplate 2.8 and the latter, in turn, is fastened to the underside of theslide l2 by a vertical bracket plate 30, so that the valve Vl movesforwardly and rearwardly with the slide. The handle 26 is connected tothe frame `14 by way of a pivoted arm 32 and the latter contains a slot34 through which projects a pin 36 fastened to a stem 38 at the end ofthe valve spool 4G of the valve V1 (FIGS. 3 and 6).

The valves are of the balanced type disclosed in Patent No. 2,888,693,so that lwhen force is removed the valve spools will return to theirnormal position.

The valve V2 (FIG. l) is movable with the carriage and rotation of thehandle 26 about its axis operates through link means comprising a cam 42and linkage 44 to displace the spool in the valve V2, thereby to supplyliuid pressure to one end or the other of the motor 24.

AA spring 46 on the spool causes it to follow the linkage during counterclockwise rotation of the handle.

Reference is made to the aforementioned Patent No. `2,888,693 for lamore detailed disclosure of the mechanism for moving the wipers and theshoe support in response to manipulation of the handle.

Forward and rearward movement of the slide 12 may produce movement ofthe wipers 10 and 11 towards and away from the shoe in a manner similarto that disclosed in Patent No. 2,668,967. The forward end of the slide12 rests upon a wiper support 48 which may, -for example, be a webintegral with the cap 50 of the frame 14, and which extends across thecap from one side to the other. The -wiper support 48 is provided with asmoothly finished upper surface forming a guide for a pair of wiperactuators 52 and 54, whose undersurfaces are shaped to provide guidewaysfor the wipers 1t) and 11. The forward end of the slide 12 has pivotallyconnected to it the rear ends of links 53 and `55 which extend forwardlybeneath the wiper actuators and are pivotally connected thereto at theirforward ends. The wiper actuators are provided with slots of propershape to impart the desired wiping movement to the wipers and movementof the actuators is eifected through the aforesaid links byreciprocation `of the slide 12. Reference is made to the aforementionedPatent No. 2,668,- 967 for a more detailed disclosure of the mechanismfor moving the wipers in response to the reciprocation of the slide l2.

The shoe comprises an upper 63 and an insole 64 mounted on a last66 (seeFIG. 10). The function of the wipers 10, 1l is to gather the upstandinglasting margin 68 of the upper 63 and wipe and fold it over the top ofthe insole. The wiped lasting margin is secured to the insole byadhesive, tacks, staples, or any other appropriate means. It isdesirable that, prior to the movement of the wiper across the insole,the upper snugly conform to the shape of the last so that, after thewiping operation, there will be no wrinkles or irregularities in theupper. It is for this purpose that the shoe conformer 57 forming theinstant invention has been provided.

The conformer 57 comprises a yoke 5S made of exible deformable material,preferably having a low coefcient of friction so as not to mar theupper. While other suitable material may be used, Teflon has lbeen foundto be the most satisfactory material out of which to fashion the yoke.The yoke is generally U-shaped and has a bight 60 positioned in theforward end of the frame 14 and a pair of legs 62 each of which extendsforwardly of the bight.

A head 70 is slidably mounted in a guideway 71 formed in the wipersupport 48. The wiper support has shoulders 72 extending on oppositesides of the guideway 71, and gibs 74, secured to the top of the wipersupport 48, extending alongside the guideway '71 (see FIG. 8). The head70 has tongues '76 adapted to slide in the grooves formed between theshoulders 72 and gibs 74. The head 70 has a socket 78 in its forward endadapted to receive the bight 60 of the yoke 58. A bracket 80, positionedrearwardly of the head 70, is secured to the gibs 74 by screws 82 andhas a portion extending downwardly into the guideway 71. A stud 84 isthreaded into the bracket 80. The stud 84 extends rearwardly andterminates short of the frame 14. An opening 86 (FIG. l) is provided inthe frame in alignment with the stud and the end of the stud has a kerfadapted to receive a screwdriver bit. A socket 88 is provided in thehead 70 and a compression spring 90 extends from the socket 88 to areduced portion 92 on the stud 84. The spring 90 serves to yieldablyurge the head 70 forwardly along the guideway 71. A screw 94 threadedinto a portion of the frame 14 is in abutting relation to the head 70and thereby limits the extent the head may be moved along the guidewayunder the resilient force of the spring 90.

Supports 96 are rigidly secured to the opposite sides of the frame 14 atthe forward end thereof and extend forwardly of the frame. An internallythreaded sleeve 98 is pivotally connected to each support 96. Eachsleeve has a cylindrical bearing 100 (FIG. 7) extending upwardlytherefrom into an opening in its associated support 96. Integral witheach bearing 100 and extending upwardly therefrom is a threaded rod 102onto which is threaded a nut 104. The sleeves 98 are thereby pivotallymounted in the supports 96 so that they may swing about the verticalaxes of the bearings 100.

A threaded shaft or screw 106 is threaded into each sleeve 98 and a knob108 is rigidly connected to each screw 106. Each screw is hollow andslidably receives a rod 110 extending longitudinally therethrough.Adjusting nuts 112 are threaded to the outer ends of the rods 110 andbear against bearings 113 rotatably mounted on the rods 110. Thebearings `113 in turn bear against the knobs S. The inner end of eachrod 110 is formed into a head 114 that extends between the jaws of aclevis 116. Each clevis 116 forms an end of a support arm 118. The heads114 are pivotally connected to the clevises 116 by pins 120 so as topermit relative swinging movement between the rods 110 and the supportarms 118 about the vertical axes of the pins 120. A compression spring122 is mounted on each rod 110 and extends from each screw 106 to eachhead 114. The ends of the support arms 118 remote from the clevises 116are pivotally connected to the head 70 by pins 124 so as to permitrelative swinging movement between the support arms 118 and the head 70about the vertical axes of pins 124. The pins 124 are received in lugs126 in the head 70, the lugs extending on opposite sides of the socket78 in the head.

The bight of the yoke 58 is normally positioned in abutting relation tothe base of the socket 78. Extending inwardly from each support arm 118adjacent each clevis 116 is an L-shaped flange 130(FIG. 9) having ahorizontal limb 131 and a vertical limb 133. Each vertical limb isreceivable in an elongate lengthwise extending slot 132 provided in eachyoke leg 62, the vertical limbs being shorter than the slots. Ahold-down finger 134 is pivoted to each support arm 118 in such aposition that it may be swung over the associated vertical limb 133.

A leaf spring 136 having a bow 138 extends from the bight 60 of the yokealong the outside wall of each yoke leg 62 for a distance extending partway along the length of each yoke leg. A jacket 139 is mounted on thebight 60 of the yoke and envelops both springs 136. The bight of theyoke, the springs 136 and the jacket 139 are secured to each other by apin (not shown) extending therethrough. The leaf springs 136 are thusmounted to apply resilient pressure inwardly of the yoke.

In the operation of the conformer, the screw 94 is adjusted to set theforwardmost position of the head 70, and the stud 84 is rotated in thebracket 80 to obtain the desired tension in the spring 90. The knobs 108are rotated to thereby bring the screws 106 the desired distance fromeach other. Since the nuts 112 act as limit stops due to the springs 122causing the nuts 112 to abut against the bearings 113, the heads 114will always be maintained a constant distance from the inner ends 140 ofthe screws 106 regardless of the setting of the screws 106, and theaxial movement of the screws 106 will move the clevises 116 of thesupport arms 118 toward or away from each other a corresponding amount.The rotation of the knobs 108 will therefore alter the profile of theinner walls 142 of the yoke 58 and alter the distance between the walls142. This alteration will provide for a greater or lesser pressure ofthe yoke legs f against the upper, the desired amount of such pressurebeing dependent on the physical characteristics of the material out ofwhich the upper is fashioned and the shape of the last. The alterationin prole of the walls 142 will also change the length of said Wallsbearing against the shoe upper. The extent of this length desired isdependent on the amount of lasting margin to be folded over the insoleby the wipers. By rotating the nuts 112, the distance between theclevises 116 and the screw ends 140 may be changed and the tension ofthe springs 122 may be adjusted.

The shoe mounted on a last is placed on the shoe support so that theupper 63 is positioned above the conformer in the position indicated inphantom in FIG. 4 with the toe end of the shoe facing the bight 60. Atthis time the edges of the shoe will overlap the inwardly facing wall142 of the yoke. The last is then forced downwardly until the top of theinsole 64 is substantially in the same plane as the bottom of the wipers10 and 11 (see FIG. 10). Initially, during the downward movement of theshoe, the wall 142 of the deformable yoke 58 will be compressed. Whenthe wall can no longer be compressed, the bight 60 of the yoke will flexrear wardly of the machine against the pressure exerted by the spring90, and the legs 62 of the yoke will llex outwardly against the pressureexerted by the springs 136. Should the shoe be substantially wider thanthe space between the legs 62, the support arms 118 will swing outwardlyabout pivot pins 124 and compress the springs 122 between the heads 114and the screw ends 140. During the latter movement, there will berelative swinging movement between the heads 114 and the clevises 116about the pins and relative swinging movement between the screws 106 andthe supports 96 about the bearings 100. The yieldable pressure exertedby the springs 90, 136 and 122, and the aforementioned swingingmovements will cause the yoke 58 to snugly engage the shoe upper 63 andcause the shoe upper to snugly conform to the shape of the last duringthe downward movement of the last.

After the shoe and last have completed their downward movement, the shoeupper will =be yieldably clamped between the last and the conformer asindicated in FIG. 10. At this time the wipers will be moved horizontallyto move, fold or wipe the upstanding lasting margin 68 of the upper 63over the insole 64 and the last may be raised upwardly against thewipers during the latters horizontal movement to apply bedding pressureof the last against the wipers. The wipers and the shoe support may bemoved independently or concurrently by the manipulation of the handle 26to effect the lasting of the shoe as described in the aforementionedPatent No. 2,888,693.

Should the shoe support be lowered an amount suicient to bring the shoeinsole 64 below the level of the yoke 58, the springs 91B, 136 and 122may force the yoke over the top of the insole. In this event, should theoperator reraise the shoe through the application of fluid pressurethrough the motor 24, the yoke may be damaged. To prevent this, anadjustable stop 144 (FlG. 1) is provided in position to abut ahorizontal bar 146 on a link 148 forming part of the linkage 44. Whenthe cam 42 is rotated in a direction to lower the shoe support, the bari146 will be moved downwardly. When the bar 146 contacts the stop 144,further downward movement of the bar and therefore of the shoe supportwill be precluded. The stop 144 takes the form of a screw threaded intothe horizontal flange of a bracket 151i. The bracket 151B is rigidlysecured to a guide 152, the guide being provided for guiding the link148 in its vertical movement. The stop 144 is adjusted to a positionwhere it will be contacted by the bar 146 when the shoe has been loweredto the extent that the top of the insole 64 is slightly higher than thebottom of the yoke 58.

In placing the yoke 58 in the machine, the bight 6@ of the yoke isplaced against the base of the socket 78, the slots 132 are slipped overthe limbs 133, and the ngers 134 are swung over the slots 132. By makingthe slots 132 longer than the limbs 133, the conformer may be placed onthe limbs 133 if the shape of the conformer legs 62 is different fromthat disclosed. The conformer is preferably made from flat stock andbent to the desired shape. The shape imparted to the conformer legs willbe dependent on the shape of the last with which the conformer is tocooperate. in addition, the elongate slots 132 may allow some degree ofrelative movement between the conformer legs `62 and the limbs 133 whenthe last is forced downwardly through the conformer and thus aid incausing the conformer to conform snugly to the shape of the last. Thehold-down fingers 134 prevent the conformer legs 62 from rising upwardlyof the limbs 133 when the last-mounted shoe is moved upwardly throughthe conformer after the wipers have been retracted.

It is within the purview of the invention to use the shoe conformer inother organizations than that disclosed. For example, instead of havingthe shoe move downwardly through the conformer, it would be within thescope of the invention to have the shoe conformer mounted for movementheightwise of the shoe. The shoe conformer could also be used in abox-toe trimming machine to conform the upper to the shape of the lastprior to trimming the box toe, lining and outer leather at the toe endof the shoe.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Reference is made to copending application Serial No. 90,565, ledFebruary 20, 1961, in the names of Jacob S. Kamborian and Heinz W.Stemmler, which discloses a .different shoe conforming apparatus havingthe same general purpose as the shoe conforming apparatus of the instantinvention.

We claim:

l. A lasting machine having wiping means mounted for forward andrearward movement; a shoe support, on which a last-mounted shoecomprising an upper and insole is placed, mounted for relativeheightwise movement toward and away from the path of movement of thewiping means; and a shoe conformer positioned below the wiping means andalongside the path of movement of the shoe, said shoe conformercomprising: a deformable yoke having a bight; a leg on each side of thebight extending away from the bight; and leaf spring means extendingalong the outside wall of each leg from a point adjacent the bight to apoint remote from the bight.

2. The lasting machine according to claim l wherein said leaf springmeans comprises: a leaf spring positioned alongside the outside wall ofeach leg; means securing an end of each spring to the 4bight of theyoke; and an outwardly extending bow in each spring intermediate theends thereof.

3. A iiexible shoe conformer comprising a deformable yoke having abight, a leg on each side of the bight extending away from the bight, aleaf spring positioned alongside the outside wall of each leg, meanssecuring an end of each spring to the bight of the yoke, and anVoutwardly extending bow in each spring intermediate the ends thereof,whereby the end of each leaf spring remote from the bight is resilientlyurged against its associated yoke leg.

4. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight adapted to be mounted in the frame, said yoke being adapted toreceive a last-mounted shoe interiorly thereof, a support rigidlysecured to the frame on each side of the yoke, a shaft pivotallyconnected to each support so that it may swing about an axis transverseto the plane in which the yoke lies, means mounting each shaft so thatit may be moved axially towards or away from a leg of the yoke, meansconnecting each shaft to a yoke leg so that axial movement of the shaftwill move the yoke leg a corresponding amount, and means on the framefor receiving the bight of the yoke.

5. The conformer according to claim 4 having means for resilientlyurging the Ibight of the yoke inwardly of the yoke.

6. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a lframe, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a lleg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, resilient means for urging the bight of the yokeinwardly of the yoke, means connecting each yoke leg to the frame, andspring means mounted to extend along the outside wall of each yoke legand apply resilient pressure inwardly of the yoke, whereby duringrelative heightwise movement between the upper and yoke, the yoke willyieldably engage the shoe upper and cause the upper to snugly conform tothe shape of the last.

7. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, a head in engagement with the bight of the yoke,said head 4being slidably mounted in the frame, spring means forresiliently urging the head in a direction extending inwardly of theyoke, a leaf spring for urging the yoke legs inwardly extending alongthe outside wall of each yoke leg, means connecting each leaf spring tothe yoke bight so that it will apply resilient pressure to theassociated yoke leg in a direction extending inwardly of the yoke, andmeans connecting each yoke leg to the frame, whereby during relativeheightwise movement between the upper and the yoke, the yoke willyieldably engage the upper and cause the upper to snugly conform to theshape of the last.

8. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a Y

deformable yoke having a bight and a leg on each side of the bightextending away from the bight, said yoke being adapted to receive alast-mounted shoe upper interiorly thereof, a head slidably mounted inthe frame, said head having a socket facing the yoke in which the bightof the yoke is received, a spring engaging the end of the head remotefrom the socket for yieldably urging the head towards the bight of theyoke, spring means in engagement with the outside wall of each yoke -legfor urging the yoke legs inwardly of the yoke, and means connecting eachyoke leg to the frame at a point remote from the bight, said last namedmeans including spring means for yieldably urging the associated yokeleg inwardly of the bight, `whereby during relative heigthwise movementbetween the upper and the yoke, the yoke will yieldably engage the upperand cause the upper to snugly conform to the shape of the last.

9. A iiexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, means mounted in the frame for yieldably urging thebight of the yoke inwardly of the yoke, a support rigidly secured to theframe on each side of the yoke, a shaft pivotally connected to eachsupport for swinging movement about an axis transverse to the plane ofthe yoke, means mounting each shaft so that it may be moved axiallytowards or away from the yoke, a support arm connected to each yoke legat a point remote from the bight, and resilient means interposed betweeneach shaft and each support arm for resiliently urging the yoke legsinwardly of the yoke, whereby during relative heightwise movementbetween the upper and the yoke, the yoke will yieldably engage the upperand cause the upper to snugly conform to the shape of the last.

10. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a `bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorily thereof, a head slidably mounted in the frame, said headhaving a socket facing the yoke in which the bight of `the yoke isreceived, a bracket positioned in the frame on the side of the headremote from the yoke, spring means interposed between the head and thebracket for yieldably urging the head towards the bight of the yoke,stop means for limiting the extent the head may be moved under theinfluence of the spring means, a spring along the outside wall of eachyoke leg for yield ably urging the leg inwardly of the yoke, each ofsaid springs being secured at one end to the bight of the yoke, asupport rigidly secured to the frame on each side of the yoke, aninternally threaded sleeve pivotally connected to each support forswinging movement about an axis transverse to the plane of the yoke, ahollow screw threaded into each sleeve. a rod slidably mounted in thehollow of each screw, said rods being of greater length than the screws,a support arm pivotally connected to the head on each side of saidsocket for swinging movement about an axis transverse to the plane ofthe yoke, a head on the end of each of the said rods that faces theyoke, a pivotal connection between each of the said heads and thesupport arms permitting relative swinging movement between the heads androds about axes transverse to the plane of the yoke, spring meansinterposed between each rod and each head for yieldably urging theassociated head toward the yoke, stop means on each rod for limiting theextent each rod may be moved towards the yoke under the influence of itsassociated spring, and means connecting each support arm to a leg of theyoke at a point remote from the bight of the yoke, whereby duringrelative heightwise movement between the upper and the yoke, the yokewill yieldably engage the upper and cause the upper to snugly conform tothe shape of the yoke.

1l. A iiexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, means mounting the bight of the yoke in the frame,and means connecting each leg of the yoke to the frame, said last namedmeans comprising an elongate slot in each yoke leg and a limb positionedwithin the slot having a shorter length than the slot, said limb beingconnected to said frame.

l2. The apparatus defined in claim ll including a holddown fingermounted on each support arm and overlying the associated limb torestrain upward movement of the yoke leg relative to the slot.

13. The apparatus defined in claim l2 including means for movablymounting the hold-down finger so that it may be moved away from theassociated yoke leg and limb to permit the removal of the yoke.

14. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, each of said legs having an elongate slot therein, said yokebeing adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upper interiorly thereof,means mounting the bight of the yoke in the frame, means connecting thelegs of the yoke to the frame, said last named means comprising asupport arm associated with each yoke leg, each support arm beingconnected to the frame and extending alongside the outside wall of eachyoke leg, and a limb connected Ito each support arm and positionedwithin each slot, each of said limbs being shorter than the associatedslot.

l5. A shoe lasting machine for in-wiping the Upstanding lasting marginof a shoe upper over a shoe insole, said machine comprising a frame,shoe working means comprising a horizontally movable shoe wiper meansand a shoe support on which a last-mounted shoe comprising an upper andan insole is placed, said shoe support being relatively movableheightwise with respect to the wiper means, a shoe conformer positionedbeneath the wiper means and alongside the path of relative movementetween the wiper means and the shoe support, said conformer comprising adeformable yoke having a bight and a leg on each side of the bightextending away from the bight, said yoke being adapted to receive theshoe interiorly thereof, means for mounting the yoke in the framecomprising resilient means for yieldably urging a portion of the yokeinwardly of the yoke, means for moving the wiper means horizontally overthe shoe insole, means for effecting the said relative heightwisemovement between the said two shoe working means, the last named meanscomprising a powered drive means connected to one of the shoe workingmeans, a control member movably mounted in the frame, link meansinterconnecting the control member and the powered drive means wherebymovement of the control member will cause the powered means to move theshoe working means connected thereto a corresponding amount, and stopmeans cooperating with said link means to preclude movement of thecontrol member an amount that would cause the top of the insole to bepositioned below the bottom of the yoke.

16. A shoe lasting machine for in-wiping the upstanding lasting marginof a shoe upper over a shoe insole, said machine comprising a frame, ahorizontally movable shoe wiper means, a shoe support on which a lastmounted shoe comprising an upper and an insole is placed, said shoesupport being movable towards and away from the path of movement of thewiper means, a shoe conformer positioned beneath the wiper means andalongside the path of movement of the shoe, said conformer comprising adeformable yoke having a bight and a leg on each side of the bightextending away from the bight, said yoke being adapted to receive theshoe interiorly thereof, means for mounting the yoke in the framecomprising resilient means for yieldably urging at least a portion ofthe yoke inwardly of the yoke, powered means operatively connected tothe wiper means for moving the wiper means horizontally over the shoeinsole, powered means operatively connected to the shoe support formoving the shoe support heightwise towards and away from the wipermeans, a control member for controlling both said powered means, saidcontrol member being mounted in the frame for horizontal movement andfor rotational movement independently or concurrently, meansinterconnecting the control member and said first named powered meansresponsive to horizontal movement of the control member to effecthorizontal movement of the wiper means, link means interconnecting thecontrol member and the second named powered means responsive torotational movement of the control member to effect heightwise movementof the shoe support, and stop means positioned to abut said link meansduring the movement thereof in response to rotation of the controlmember to preclude rotation of the control member an amount sucient tocause the top of the insole to be positioned below the bottom of theyoke.

17. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a bight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, means mounting the bight of the yoke in the frame,and means connecting each yoke leg to the frame, the last named meanscomprising means permitting relative movement lengthwise of the yokelegs between each yoke leg and the frame part to which it is connected.

1S. A flexible shoe conformer comprising a frame, a deformable yokehaving a ibight and a leg on each side of the bight extending away fromthe bight, said yoke being adapted to receive a last-mounted shoe upperinteriorly thereof, means mounted in lthe frame for resiliently urgingthe bight of the yoke inwardly of the yoke, spring means mounted toextend along the outside wall of each yoke leg and apply resilientpressure inwardly of the yoke and means connecting each yoke leg to theframe, the last named means comprising means permitting relativemovement lengthwise of the yoke legs be l@ tween each yoke leg and theframe part to which it is connected.

19. A toe lasting machine for in-wiping the upstanding lasting margin ofa shoe upper over a shoe insole, said machine comprising a frame, ahorizontally movable shoe wiper means, a shoe support on which alast-mount ed shoe comprising an upper and an insole is placed, saidshoe support being movable towards and away from the path of movement ofthe wiper means, a shoe conformer positioned beneath the wiper means andalongside the path of movement of the shoe, said conformer comprising adeformable yoke having a bight and a leg on each side of the bightextending away from the bight, said yoke being adapted to receive theshoe interiorly thereof, means mounted in the frame for resilientlyurging the bight of the yoke inwardly of the yoke, spring means mountedyto extend along the outside wall of each yoke leg and apply resilientpressure inwardly of the yoke, means connecting each yoke leg to theframe, means for moving the wiper means horizontally over the shoeinsole, means for moving the shoe support heightwise towards and awayfrom the Wiper means, the last named means comprising powered drivemeans connected to the shoe support, a control member movably mounted inthe frame, link means interconnecting the control member and the powereddrive means whereby movement of the control member will cause thepowered means to move the shoe support a corresponding amount, and stopmeans cooperating with said link means to preclude movement of thecontrol member an amount sufcient to cause the top of the insole to bepositioned below the bottom of the yoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,028,167 Pym Jan. 2l, 1936 2,153,570 Jorgensen Apr. ll, 1939 2,329,695Casavant et al Sept. 2l, 1943 2,888,693 Weisz lune 2, 1959

